Saving Energy

We always save as much energy as we can by setting our thermostat at 61 degrees when we are asleep or out of the house; when we are home it is set at about 67 - 69 degrees, depending on how cold it is. Yesterday our new Governor, Susan Martinez, called for a State of Emergency. Because the temperatures have been so cold, colder than it has been in decades - it was 18 below zero yesterday more here - and usage of gas and electric has risen there were many people without gas. The gas company here, anticipating the freezing weather, had ordered extra gas last weekend. The gas should have arrived in plenty time to eliminate any chance of running out. However, the gas comes from Texas and they were using rolling blackouts/brownouts to prevent problems which caused a slowdown in the arrival of our gas. So, all state offices closed mid-day yesterday, all schools are closed statewide, and all non-essential state offices continue to be closed, along with the schools, today. There is a very slow warm up occurring and so everyone hopes that the crisis will be over soon. In the meantime, we are all to lower our thermostats, which we have done, to decrease the gas and electric usage. Love the snow, which is still very much present, but the freezing temps are a bit much for New Mexico.

Cartoon provided by: Reader's Digest